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CaliforniaReservoir, 469 acres, Merced County

Los Banos Reservoir water level

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset

Current level

296.00ft NGVD29

Reading from Oct 25, 2026

Well below normal for October

Past 24 hours
0.00ft
Past 7 days
0.00ft
Past 30 days
0.00ft
vs typical October
-27.83ft

Los Banos Reservoir was at 296.00 ft on October 25, holding steady over the past week (0.00 ft). That is well below normal for October: the typical October level is 323.83 ft, so the lake is 27.83 ft below its usual mark.

Last 30 days

295.8296.0296.2Sep 25Oct 10Oct 25

Shaded band shows the lowest and highest October monthly averages on record. Dashed line is the typical October level.

Typical level through the year

Each bar spans the range of monthly averages on record for that month. The line marks the median. The orange dot is where the lake sits now.

300350JFMAMJJASOND

Recent daily readings

Los Banos Reservoir daily mean water level, newest first
DateLevel (ft NGVD29)Change
Oct 25, 2026296.000.00
Oct 24, 2026296.000.00
Oct 23, 2026296.000.00
Oct 22, 2026296.000.00
Oct 21, 2026296.000.00
Oct 20, 2026296.000.00
Oct 19, 2026296.000.00
Oct 18, 2026296.000.00
Oct 17, 2026296.000.00
Oct 16, 2026296.000.00
Oct 15, 2026296.000.00
Oct 14, 2026296.000.00
Oct 13, 2026296.000.00
Oct 12, 2026296.000.00

Reading these numbers

Readings are elevations in feet above the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD29), the reference most older dam and lake charts use. If you compare with a newer chart in NAVD88, expect a difference of a few feet. Our glossary explains NGVD29 vs NAVD88.

On a reservoir, a few feet of drop changes the shoreline more than you would think. Low water exposes stumps, sandbars and old roadbeds that are normally well under the hull, and some ramps end before the water does.

High water brings its own problems: floating debris after storms, flooded docks and courtesy piers, and no-wake rules near flooded campgrounds. A quick look at the trend before you hitch up saves a wasted trip.

The gauge is about 7 miles from the center of the lake and is listed by USACE as Los Banos Reservoir. Wind can pile water up at one end of a big lake for a few hours, so short spikes on a windy day are normal.

Los Banos Reservoir water level questions

What is the water level at Los Banos Reservoir today?

Los Banos Reservoir was at 296.00 ft on October 25, holding steady over the past week (0.00 ft). That is well below normal for October: the typical October level is 323.83 ft, so the lake is 27.83 ft below its usual mark.

Is Los Banos Reservoir high or low right now?

Compared with the long-term record for October, the lake is well below normal. The October monthly average has ranged from 299.56 to 330.02 ft, with a typical value of 323.83 ft.

Is Los Banos Reservoir rising or falling?

Over the last seven days the level has held roughly steady (0.00 ft), and it is 0.00 ft compared with 30 days ago.

Where does the Los Banos Reservoir water level data come from?

From the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reading at Los Banos Reservoir. The Corps reports pool elevation, usually every hour, and early values can be revised after review.

How often is this page updated?

The page itself is rebuilt every day with the latest daily values, and the current reading refreshes straight from the Corps of Engineers each time you open it.

Nearby lakes

If Los Banos is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their water levels.